Night time.

Luke's van entered the road. Roseglade Street 42.

A.k.a, the gateway to what could be hell.

Ken: Well, here goes nothing.

Rose: Hmmm?

Ken: Nothing, Rose. Don't worry about it.

Rose: Ok.

Luke and Tiffany did not interject. They had long since decided that Rose not knowing their true beliefs towards Julianne was for the best.

Tiffany: I want us all to be on our best behaviour. She may be Max's mom, but she's still a full-grown adult.

Ken: My my, oh diligent leader, how dutiful of you.

Tiffany: I know it's a bit odd changing pace so quickly. But in this case, we need to do this to ensure that our relationship with her remains positive.

Ken: Fair...

She was right. Even though Max was not an official member of the team, having Max's mom not have a problem with them would be an absolute plus in several ways.

Just as they pulled up at the driveway....

Inside the house....

Max: They're here!

He super sped dashed to the front door and waited at it impatiently and jitteringly excitably.

Julianne: Be calm now, hon.

Max: Ok. Ok.

And inside the van...

Tiffany: Alright then, are you ready, team?

Rose: Yeah!

Ken: (sigh) Take me sweet death.

Rose: Hmm?

Ken: Oh, nothing.

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Luke: Yeah, I'm ready.

Tiffany: Good.

It was a cold night that day.

The three teens walked outside of the van, all looking entirely normal except for Tiffany, who was carrying a sheathed katana.

Rose: I can't wait to show Mrs Hunter the recipe I found.

The three other teens looked at her warely but said nothing.

And soon, Luke knocked on the door.

Max, who was waiting on the other side, waited only two seconds before deciding he'd waited long enough and opened the door, just as Julianne joined him.

Max: Hey guys!

Rose: Hey, Max!

Tiffany, Luke, and Ken: Hey.

The look on Julianne Hunter was one of an open smile.

Having seen that, it became almost immediately apparent. Things were about to get awkward.

Julianne: Hey kids.

Rose: Hey, Mrs Hunter.

Tiffany, Luke and Ken: Hey....

They couldn't hide the awkwardness completely

Julianne: I hope your journey here wasn't too severe.

Tiffany: Not at all, Mrs Hunter.

That was the first time she'd openly replied to her.

Julianne: That's good to hear.

Rose: Oh, Mrs Hunter, I found a new recipe.

Julianne: Oh really?

Rose: Uh huh.... It's for cheesecake. They called it a super secret recipe.

Julianne: Ooooohhhh! I'd love to try that. But for now....

She had already noticed her son slowly becoming antsy. And, it was cold out.

Being an actor came with many extra talents. Amongst them was taking note of people's responses to one's actions.

This is true of every art a man or woman may learn in life. A fighter learns balance, a philosopher learns psychology, a reader learns patience, and a race driver learns to stay calm.

Truly, any and every art is multi dimensional.

Moving on...

Julianne: ... let's all get inside.

The four teens walked into the house.

In any normal circumstances, statements such as, "This place looks nice," or great or some other generic complement. But, they'd already been there. And so it was unnecessary.

Although.... the place did look slightly different.

For one thing, the table was well made.

Almost artistically so. Almost as though some kind of expert diner was the place to which they'd gone.

So artistic in fact, that the four teens took a moment to look at it.

The door was then presently shut by Julianne, who then locked it.

Rose: Oh my gosh, Mrs Hunter. I love what you did with the table.

Julianne: Oh, that? It was nothing, really.

Seeing Rose get along so well with Mrs Hunter seemed like such a twilight zone thing to Tiffany, Luke and Ken, that they almost couldn't hide it in their faces how strange they found it.

The simple question they were asking themselves constantly was this.

Max's mother was mad at them for endangering her son's life. That much was obvious. And so... why did she change her mind?

Was she manipulating them?

Dis she lure them here? What was her purpose?

Rose, in the meantime, walked over to the table cloth and took a closer look.

Rose: It's so soft.

Julianne: Oh, that thing. It's made out of organic cotton, linen, and satin fabric. I reserve it for special guests.

Rose: Woah!

Ken: (thinking: Special guests?)

Max: Err..... Mom?

Julianne: Oh, right. Sorry, hon. I completely forgot.

The look on Julianne Hunter's face suddenly changed.

Julianne: We're not here to talk about food. We're here to train.